Resolution Products and IpDatatel merge to form Alula, offering the new Connect+ security and home-automation hub, along with dual-path IP and cellular communicators and its own SHaaS (smart home as a service) platform.

The Alula ecosystem -- featuring the Connect+ Hub, dual-path alarm communicators and home-grown SHaaS (smart home as a service) -- are designed to help security integrators challenge the DIY market with professionally installed alternatives.

Security manufacturers and long-time collaborators ipDatatel and Resolution Products have officially merged to form Alula, offering a complete security and home-automation platform designed to help integrators compete in the growing DIY marketplace.

The end-to-end solution includes everything from the hub and sensors, to the IP and cellular communicators, to the SHaaS (smart home as a service) engine that manages security and IoT activity.

The two companies have been working together for many years bringing IpDatatel’s dual-band IP and cellular SecureSmart Network communicator to Resolution’s Helix smart security panel. The merger results in the newly named Alula Connect+ hub, an easy-to-install pro-only solution with automation, security and video surveillance to help integrators compete against consumer-oriented systems sold at retail.

"The dealers that evolve with the changes in the marketplace and embrace the technology and opportunity are going to thrive."

— Brian McLaughlin, Alula

Security dealers can use Alula as the go-to alarm and automation system for their traditional security business. Or they can embrace new DIY business models and offer Alula as a self-installed solution to reach a broader market. Alula's modular configuration makes it practical for everything from two-room townhouses to large mansions and small retail stores.

McLaughlin, whose background is in the Software as a Service (SaaS) space, believes the company is positioned well to help independent integrators against the growing DIY security space.

“I think the good integrators are willing to change. The strong will survive. With any type of change, some companies will resist and they'll survive for a while, but eventually probably fail. The dealers that evolve with the changes in the marketplace and embrace the technology and opportunity are going to thrive,” he says.

McLaughlin believes both the professional installation market and the DIY security market will grow simply because there are so many homes currently not being services with security.

“Some consumers are going to want professional installation, some are going to want to do it themselves through a managed service, and others are going to want full control of everything. As the market grows and viable options come to bear, we're going to see a lot of different alternatives.”

“We are excited about the new company, Alula, and are confident the melding of these two companies will be a force multiplier to continue to drive innovation,” says Michael Morton, chief revenue officer, EMC Security. “In an industry filled with disruption we recognize the importance of choosing partners that embrace continual innovation. Both ipDatatel and Resolution Products have impressed us over the years with their ability to listen to the market and develop products that meet the desires of consumers.”

Alula Name Has Meaning

He says the merger made sense culturally with a customer-service focus, noting there is less than a 5 percent overlap in employee functions. On the technology side, the merger puts the combined Twin Cities-based engineering team on the same roadmap to create products to expand opportunities for dealers.

“A lot of times when you have a merger, there's going to be layoffs. We didn't have any."

— Brian McLaughlin, Alula

“A lot of times when you have a merger, there's going to be layoffs. We didn't have any. These companies fit together almost perfectly. Now it's just about making sure that we can drive forward and gain some scale,” says McLaughlin. By scale he means ramping up to “significant volume” levels.

There is also some significance to the new company name. The word “alula” is actually the part of a bird’s wing that enables flight.

“So if you want to take that definition a layer deeper, you could say we're all about giving dealers a fighting chance to allow them to fly in the market,” says McLaughlin, who admits the palindrome name is “not very masculine.”

The custom electronics industry saw a healthy 8 percent growth rate in 2018, down slightly from the blazing 11 percent growth in 2017 but still admiringly strong. Our 2019 State of the Industry indicates that readers expect to see even more growth in 2019. Get your copy today.

About the Author

Jason has covered low-voltage electronics as an editor since 1990. He joined EH Publishing in 2000, and before that served as publisher and editor of Security Sales, a leading magazine for the security industry. He served as chairman of the Security Industry Association’s Education Committee from 2000-2004 and sat on the board of that association from 1998-2002. He is also a former board member of the Alarm Industry Research and Educational Foundation. He is currently a member of the CEDIA Education Action Team for Electronic Systems Business. Jason graduated from the University of Southern California. Have a suggestion or a topic you want to read more about? Email Jason at jknott@ehpub.com